FEATURE:
Return of the Mac
PHOTO CREDIT: Paul McCartney
Why Paul McCartney’s Headline Slot at Glastonbury 2020 Is Just What We Need in These Troubled Times
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PERHAPS the news Paul McCartney is…
Hey Glasto - excited to be part of your Anniversary celebrations. See ya next summer! https://t.co/31yA40Eb4d
— Paul McCartney (@PaulMcCartney) November 18, 2019
headlining Glastonbury next year is not such a shock! Ever since the rumours started circulating regarding Glastonbury headliners, Paul McCartney’s name was in the hat. As McCartney has been touring a lot and never seems to slow down, it is not like he had to come out of retirement! His current studio album, Egypt Station, was released year and received mostly positive reviews. There is always a lot of interest in The Beatles, so people will always want to see some of the classics performed. Not only did we celebrate The Beatles’ last-recorded album, Abbey Road, turn fifty very recently; there is a singles collection coming out on Friday. There is this unending appetite for the best band there ever was and, when it comes to one of their lead songwriters, the fact he is still performing at all is fantastic! On Saturday, 27th June, 2020, Paul McCartney will return to the Glastonbury stage. He last performed there back in 2004, but the circumstances are different this time. The weather was a bit ‘British’ (i.e. sh*t) back then; he has amassed more material and, with next year being Glastonbury’s fiftieth, there is that extra weight and cause for celebration. There is talk of who might join Macca on stage when he headlines. He and Ringo Starr (his erstwhile and brother from The Beatles) have performed together this year, so one might see an appearance from the iconic drummer.
PHOTO CREDIT: Paul McCartney
I hope there will not be too many guest appearances like there was when Kylie Minogue performed in the Legends slot this year – the likes of Chris Martin were trotted out for rather rudimentary and forgettable turns. I can understand why many would want to see a lot of artists join McCartney on the stage, but those who are already looking forward to seeing him play next year will want pure Macca. They have paid to see this legend take to the stage and perform and perform a selection of Wings, Beatles and solo tracks. There is this almost impossible task put before Macca: What songs do you include in this once in a lifetime set, considering the vast body of genius you have released?! Maybe that is a luxury rather than a curse but, seeing as fans of various generations will be at Glastonbury, it will be hard to please everyone. One would suspect more Beatles tracks than Wings cuts; classic solo stuff and, perhaps, the odd curveball. When news was announced online that McCartney was headlining, the reaction was predictable: those who were thrilled and salivating and the sighing hordes who felt it was a boring booking. I have seen comments suggesting McCartney’s voice is not what it used to be and, as he is in his mid-seventies, that is no surprise. I know he cannot belt out songs like he did in the Sixties, but that does not mean he will struggle to match the occasion of a Glastonbury headliner.
There have been articles suggesting McCartney is a safe booking, but I do not think that is true. Booking a band who have played Glastonbury a lot – like Coldplay – would be safe; Macca is the perfect artist to headline Glastonbury’s fiftieth anniversary year. I can almost picture McCartney leading thousands of people in a chorus of Hey Jude as the darkness seduces the Somerset evening! The last year or two has been pretty bad and, if the General Election results in Boris Johnson remaining as the Prime Minister, people will be pretty depressed! I have high hopes for 2020 but, with Brexit still rumbling and there being so much tension in the air, Glastonbury 2020 is going to be an event to unite people. When it comes to feelgood tracks, a huge personality and a back catalogue instantly recognisable to the masses, Paul McCartney is who you want in a headline slot!I know McCartney is not a rising talent and there are others who warrant a headline slot, but next year is a huge anniversary and people have dreamed of McCartney headlining on the Pyramid Stage for a very long time! I am not sure who else will be headlining but, with the bookies tipping Taylor Swift as a favourite, it looks like the headline slots will be quite broad. This year’s Glastonbury was great, but I did feel The Killers was a bit of a strange choice.
IN THIS PHOTO: Ringo Starr takes to the stage during Paul McCartney’s Freshen Up tour/PHOTO CREDIT: Paul McCartney
Stormzy killed it and The Cure were good but, as Glasto turns fifty, they need someone as big as McCartney to get everyone united and singing – in a way this year’s headliners could not. I am not attending Glastonbury, but I will watch on T.V. and cannot wait to see which songs Paul McCartney selects. As we are in a strange and unsure time, I think it is the perfect time for McCartney to come back to Glastonbury and play a storming set. I can almost feel the buzz in the air and the sore voices of thousands as they sing along to tracks that have soundtracked ours and our parents’ childhoods. It will be a magical performance, and those who will get to see him play will remember it for the rest of their lives. There is always cynicism and criticism when it comes to any artist headlining. I do not feel McCartney is a wrong, safe or lazy choice. He is what we all need right now; the fact he is the greatest living Pop songwriter we have means that we should be very fortunate he is performing. It not only acts as a chance to see a genius perform so many iconic hits; it serves as an inspiration to so many young artists how to write classic tracks. One cannot deny the place Paul McCartney has in music history. As the world’s best festival turns half a century in age, one of music’s gods will play to a passionate and enthralled crowd – who could object to that or have anything negative to say?! There will be so many classics belted out next June, but I know there will be that rousing chorus of Hey Jude, possibly as an encore! The sound and sight of thousands upon thousands of people singing in harmony to a Beatles classic will be one of the most spine-tingling moments…
OF this generation.